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Author
Topic: Split condom & pep (Read 4332 times)

I've read most of the previous posts on this subject, so half anticipate your response. We all think we,re in a unique situation so here goes...

Just over 1 month ago I had protected sex with female CSW in high risk country. At some point during that the condoms we used split twice (each time replaced with new). The day after realising what I had done I visited the local hospital and saw a local doctor. He prescribed Atripla as PEP and told me to take for a month. That was taken within 12 hrs. Wow what a month. Nothing prepared me for that! It was intense.

Now I am back home and having read past postings plus sought local advice I know I need to wait 6 weeks for my first hiv test. i did get tested for STIs by national health service and those came back negative. I finished the PEP 10 days ago and still have some of lasting effetcs from that. Nausea, drowsiness, loss of appetite, especially in morning. My lymphs nodes in groin and throat are also sore, but not in extreme pain.

First question, is this normal with PEP? It was strong, so I don't expect an immediate return. It is getting better but slowly. Do they take time to leave system? Next question having read previous posts I half expect the answer, but the question remains as insertive partner do you consider high risk? Or will only test give me truth I am looking for? If I know I could remove the pep from thinking it would help. Should I be worried about my lymph nodes?

In the ten years since I began answering queries about HIV infection this forum I have yet to see an insertive partner test positive after a condom break. IMHO the PEP was not warranted.

You may see a slow return to normal after these incredibly strong (I don't think I have to tell you that) medicines leave your body. And I fully, firmly expect you to test negative.

Also please remember - places are not high risk. Activities are.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

thanks both for your quick replies and advice. Duly & carefully noted. PEP is rough. even now 10 days later after stopping it still lingers. have others given similar feedback? or is everyone different? So even with condom split x2 you'd expect same testing outcome? PEP or no-PEP?

There have been a handful or two of insertive partners here who, for whatever reason, availed themselves of PEP after a condom break. All tested negative three months after stopping PEP.

As far as how long the effects can linger, that likely varies from person to person. I suspect in a few weeks you should be fine. If not, of course, then a doctor visit might be in order.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

ok, I know the symptoms are not HIV specific and may well be as result from a weakened immune system post PEP, but my lymph-nodes in the throat and groin are persistenly swollen. Its not imagined I am pretty sure.

I know the anxiety caused by the waiting for the test could also be a contributing factor (plus of course time-of-year) and I know if these symptons persist you're likely to advise seeing my doctor, but I just wanted your opinion and based on your pretty extensive experience, do you get this type of feedback pretty regulary from posters on this forum?

I am staying away from HIV diagnosis sites and instead focusing on what you have already told me in that you have yet to see an instertive partner test postive, but the doubts remain especially with this swelling in both areas and I would value your feedback. Still feeling groggy in the morning BTW.

Like many in this forum, its the anxiety that I am sure is making this worse than it needs to be and like many, I do not expect you to get into an endless round of what-if questions... But... 2 weeks after the end of PEP, I do have multiple symptoms, which are causing me a great deal of worry. I don't have full blown flu and its not like I can barely swallow, but they're there and its that that is causing me the concern. Another 4 weeks till testing feels like a long way away at the minute. You see this all the time I am sure.

There is nothing HIV specific about anything you are reporting. If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor.

It is VERY unlikely with your low level risk and at this point in time that you would be experiencing ARS.

Yes, I understand that waiting to test is hard. You need to make a real effort to focus on other things in your life while waiting to test. Yes, it can be done so don't bother saying you are too worried to that.

I've left my situation + the posting alone for last couple of days to monitor how i feel and to remove the urge to constanley check my own situation. The sore throat is persistent and around the sides not in the throat itself, but it not like I cannot swallow.

But the other problem for me is the constant nausea. I just don't feel myself at all. Compared to normal I am hardly eating (just don't feel hungary) and when I do eat it really makes the nausea quite bad for the next hour.

Its nearly 3 weeks since I finished the PEP and its coming to 2 weeks with the sore throat. I keep telling myself that the PEP + Anxiety probably weakend my immune system/body, and now I have the various winter bugs and viruses taking advantage of that and they should pass.

I cannot see my local doctor here in UK, because they are a personal friend of my family and I don't want to explain at this stage why I have found myself in this situation and giving them the full background on the PEP, when they ask the obvious questions.

Is your advice still the same?

I know you probably have other things to be doing on new years eve. You'll probably tell me to do the same. I read quite a few of the threads and your responses are a lesson in patience, dedication and relevant information. Thats should be a lesson to everyone that reads / posts to these boards in 2013.

BR, there's really nothing more to add at this point. Despite your fears you actually had a very low level risk for HIV.

Despite your reluctance to see your regular doctor, you could discuss your symptoms without having to get into all of the details about your fears about HIV. But that's up to you. (Or see another doctor whom you don't know as well?)

Regardless what you choose to do you have a few weeks more to wait until 6 weeks after completing PEP. Assuming you get the negative result we expect, then it clearly points the way to your testing negative for a conclusive result at 3 months.

Meantime you need to make a real effort to focus on other things in your life. It will make the waiting time pass more easily than you may imagine is possible.

You'd be better off going to the GUM clinic (rebranded as sexual health clinics in some NHS Trusts) at your local hospital than you would be going to your family GP for advice on PEP side effects anyway. Most family practice GPs won't know much, if anything, about meds used for hiv. I know mine hasn't a clue, aside from what I've explained to him. I go to a GUM clinic for my hiv health care and use my GP for run-of-the-mill stuff.

You were given Atripla for PEP but Atripla isn't recommended for PEP - because of the high incidence of side effects, not because it's not effective. It is very effective. One of the drugs in Atripla is called Sustiva and it can take up to two or three weeks for the side effects to completely disappear.

PEP won't lower your immunity to seasonal bugs, but anxiety sure will. There are plenty of seasonal bugs going around right now and that's the most likely explanation as to how you're feeling. You can still go see your family GP - you really don't need to mention hiv or PEP as PEP won't have anything to do with your sore throat.

And no, you're not seroconverting either.

You were never likely to end up hiv positive over this situation anyway, PEP or no PEP.

If I may, I'd like to suggest two New Year's Resolutions for you.

1. STOP thinking of people or places as high or low risk. It's not WHO you do, it's HOW you do it, regardless of where you are in the world. Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and it won't matter who you're having sex with or where you're doing it.

2. Learn how to avoid condom breakage. A correctly used condom rarely breaks. Read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can avoid breaks in future.

I fully expect you to ultimately test hiv negative. Make sure you stay that way.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thank you for your feedback. That you've taken the time to provide this over several posts has been very reassuring for me.

Ultimately you're right, I'll wait the time and take the test. For others reading this, taking the full course of PEP, and living with those effects is not a walk in the park.

So I am about to head off to a place away from UK, where it isn't going to be so easy to post, so you'll get some peace and quiet from me. Sure others will fill that spot!

I'll head back to the UK in a few weeks to take the tests and close this chapter of my life out. I will post to let you know how I've done.

That you're out here providing this service has been a real process of discovery for me. Some of the other sites are a little scary for people that find themself in this position. You've really built something here.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts